Hospitals told to pay HOs’ wages by 10th every month

ISLAMABAD: The top court directed private hospitals to ensure that doctors, who are doing their house jobs, are paid by the 10th of every month.

This was directed by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, as the court heard a case relating to payment to house job doctors.

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Chief told the court that private hospitals were obligated to pay doctors who are on house jobs. But for the doctors to even get Rs 40,000, which was due to them every month, they had to get a recommendation. The Chief lamented that the rules of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) were not being followed.

At this, CJP Nisar said that the top court had drafted a new law for PMDC, which was sent to the government. Despite many months passing, the government has yet to have the draft legislated.

The draft law, the court pointed out, stated that private hospitals will pay the doctors doing house job.

The additional attorney general told the court that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had approved the draft law and that it will now be presented before the parliament.

At this CJP Nisar remarked that if the government did not want to legislate over the matter, then the government should pay the house job doctors.

The court ruled that private hospitals were bound to pay house job doctors, and that hospitals should pay them by the 10th of every month either directly or through the relevant hospitals.

Should the hospitals fail to pay the doctors doing house jobs, the heads of the respective hospitals will be held responsible.